Sunway Group founder Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah has confirmed that the roller coaster accident at Sunway Lagoon on Saturday night left 10 people injured, while authorities continue investigating the incident.
Cheah said the incident was deeply regrettable but noted that no fatalities were reported following the accident involving the amusement ride.
“It’s an incident that all of us regret very much. We are lucky that there were no fatalities,” he told the New Straits Times.
He said investigations were underway to determine exactly what caused the incident, adding that, in his view, metal fatigue could have been a contributing factor. Police have also ruled out foul play, he said.
Cheah further revealed that the affected ride had been temporarily closed around two to three weeks before the incident for comprehensive inspection and maintenance.
The accident occurred at about 9pm on Saturday and involved 22 riders, comprising Malaysians and foreign tourists aged between 11 and 44.
Subang Jaya district police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Azlan Wan Mamat said yesterday that 10 riders sustained minor injuries. At the time, however, he did not identify the theme park involved.
The incident later drew public attention after videos of the scene circulated online. One showed a woman being carried on a stretcher down a flight of stairs near a section of the roller coaster track surrounded by trees.
Another video recorded during the day showed a crowd gathered near the amusement ride, with several police officers and theme park personnel seen leaving the area.
With investigations still ongoing, the cause of the accident has yet to be officially determined. Further findings are expected to shed light on whether mechanical or structural issues played a role in the incident.
